Goducate … Go And Educate! – Page 221 – Helping Asians Help Themselves

2010-08-202010-08-19

Batam English camp at Tunas Bahru Junior High School

Just last month Dr Paul Choo conducted a seminar on Principle of teaching for the 100 teachers of the seven schools under an Indonesian educational NGO (in English called “New Sprouts”).

Subsequently, Goducate was invited to conduct English camp for their first year Junior high students on the 7th and 8th August at one of the seven schools, called Tunas Bahru.

Camp started at 3.00 pm after school on the 7th which was a Saturday. 54 students came and attended the camp together with 3 of their teachers. How excited the kids were while waiting for our volunteer helpers from Singapore to come and spend time to teach them speech drama and play indoor games that will help them speak English!

We picked up our 7 Singapore volunteers from Sekupang ferry terminal and brought them to the school where the camp was held. We commenced with ice breaker action songs and games to help them break from their shyness and prepare them to converse in English. They were then divided into three teams and each team was to compete with the other at the end of the drama practice. The kids were so full of energy and did their best to speak English.

They spent a night sleeping in the school classrooms and were up early Sunday morning before the sun is up to play volleyball. Thereafter, we continued with our session with them.

The 3 Indonesian teachers really appreciate our coming to help their kids especially foreigners who can speak and teach English. Though not much can be done in term of teaching them to be fluent in English in just two days, yet our coming was an encouragement to the students to see the importance of learning English to prepare for a better future.

We will be back next month for another English camp. Any volunteer care to join us ???

2010-08-182010-08-18

Goducate English camp in China (Part 5)

The day after the 2010 English Essentials Summer Camp ended, students and teachers set off either for Changbai Mountain or for a camping trip at a deer farm. By far the majority of the students (158 of them) opted for the deer farm. They were accompanied by 21 teachers.

Raise your hands if its your first time camping out

After watching a demonstration on how to put up a tent, students found themselves enjoying setting up their own. The afternoon saw the students relaxing in many different ways—some went fishing, some went for a walk, some played cards or ball games, and others took a nap. As dusk arrived, helpful students assisted in collecting firewood. Others gathered round for an explanation on how to barbeque a kebab. After stomachs were filled, the night was spent singing round the fire and talking in small groups. Bedtime came but those few who stayed up were privileged with the chance to watch some shooting stars, whereas the rest could only envy them as they recounted their experience the next morning.

After breakfast, there was a time of sharing, at which many students told of how this camping trip brought firsts for them— first time pitching a tent, first time living out under the stars, first time barbequing a kebab, and the list goes on. Altogether, the students greatly treasured the time spent with one another and the friendships forged.

– Melody, an assistant teacher at the summer camp

2010-08-162010-08-16

Goducate English camp in China (Part 4)

The 2010 English Essentials Summer Camp run by Goducate-sponsored Lifepegs (www.lifepegs.com) ended officially on Wed Aug 11—far too early, according to many of the students. They had enjoyed themselves tremendously, had learnt how fun can be injected into learning in as well as out of class, and had gained much confidence speaking English and talking to foreign teachers.

Students receiving awards for being the Most Valuable Players in Avalanche team.JPG

On the night before the closing, the students had another chance to reveal their creativity, with each team being given an hour and a quarter to make a team mascot out of nothing else apart from the newspapers and sellotape that were supplied, and their team T shirts and flags, before it was time for the mascots to appear before the panel of judges.

The closing day itself was taken up by final assessments in the morning, team lunches at a restaurant, then distribution of various awards and certificates. However, that day marked only the closing of the formal part of the camp. The students were scheduled to go off the next day on trips with their coaches (teachers), either to Changbai Mountain (for 3 days) or to a deer farm (for 2 days).

Torpedo mascot, Cyclone mascot (in green), and two representing Avalanche mascot.JPG